Gay Porn Videos, Magazines Confiscated At Austin Home

Collections of apparent pornographic videotapes and magazines were taken from James A. Austin's Hanover Township, Northampton County condominium Friday.

Austin is accused of beating to death the child he paid $30,000 to have through a surrogate mother. He remains in Northampton County Prison under $500,000 bail waiting for a Jan. 30 preliminary hearing on an open homicide charge.

The 5-week-old infant, Jonathan Alan Huddleston, died Jan. 17, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, several days after his surrogate mother, Phyllis Ann Huddleston, 29, of Lafayette, Ind., took him off life support when his health appeared to improve.

In the search warrant, police said they were looking for: books, papers, diaries, film, letters, literature, photographs, receipts, videos, baby changing pad with bumper sides or anything else related to the care of Jonathan, the surrogacy through Infertility Center of America, forensic evidence of blood stains or other evidence regarding an assault.

Austin's criminal lawyer, John J. Waldron of Allentown declined comment because he said he has not examined the items police took.

Although the search was conducted Friday at 1 p.m., the search warrant and affidavit were not returned to District Justice Barbara Schlegel's office until late yesterday, after which, state troopers were unavailable for further comment.

Police took 28 videotapes from the dining room table of the home. Of them, 16 were apparently pornographic, with titles like "Guys Who Do," and "Locker Room Fever," police said. Five videotapes were unlabeled and one is a children's videotape called, "Barney In Concert." One had the name Jonathan and the date 8/31/94 on it.

Magazine titles of "Playguy" "Olympus" and "Honcho" were among the eight confiscated, police said. Police also took two jars of lubricant, one of which was called, "Silk."

The book "The New Joy of Gay Sex," was also taken.

Austin's lawyer, Waldron had complained earlier in the case that Austin was not screened to determine his aptitude for fatherhood by the Infertility Center of America in Indianapolis.

"They didn't provide any kind of parental training or give him any resource materials," Waldron said in an interview Jan. 13. "They didn't even give him a suggested reading list."

A pamphlet, "Alternatives for Childless Couples," undescribed photographs and negatives, multi-page documents, an insurance status change form, a two-page hand written letter, a Dec. 16 receipt from Pediatric Association of Allentown, the crib bumper pad and an airline ticket were also taken.